I was wondering if someone that knows alot about computers and video cards could be so kind to tell me what kind of video card do I need to get for my compaq computer? I am not getting it to play the sims 2 or anything (as I use my other computer, Dell, to play TS2 and TS2 doesn't run on this computer), I just want this computer to run faster. I'm getting more ram and a new card (because I want one and need one) for this one (Compaq Presario 061). Btw, I have two PCI slots. Please respond asap.

First check in your BIOS if you can disable the integrated S3 ProsavageDDR,
because, if you cannot and put a new PCI video card in the slot, your pc will still start on the S3 ProsavageDDR and not on the new one...
so, waste of time and money for you...

If yes, take care and be sure to choose the good PCI format card because new generation of PCI video cards are PCI Express format and i'm not sure
they can work in "old" PCI slot.

PCI Express is going to replace the current AGP slot because faster but as far as i can understand, you do not have any AGP slot available on your Compaq...

'Want to make your computer go faster' is too vague a demand. It really depends on the workload of your pc. What you do with it is what counts. If there's no 3D processing being done, your S3 will suffice.

Get at least 256 MB system ram for your Windows, as much as possible taking into account the fact that your S3 Savage eats 32 MB of your system RAM for video.

If your computer does any 3D processing, I suggest taking a look at your motherboard model. Check the manufacturer's website or any manual that comes with your computer. If your computer has an AGP slot you're in luck (relatively as compared to only PCI slots). Most likely your machine DOES NOT come with PCI express slots although it will also be prudent to check those.

Pifou is right in that you have to go check your BIOS to see if you can disable the onboard video card (which is the normal case... otherwise your manufacturer is stupid).

Anyway, if you're not too freaky about computers just open the case and take a look, or maybe take a snapshot and post it here. That should give us a better idea of what your computer can do.

PCI express support is fairly new on GeForce 5 series. Krysie, be sure to note the distinction from PCI express and PCI slots.

Either case, if you buy a 5500 256 MB and slap it in your computer, all you do is free the 32 mb from the S3 video card. That means you only have 128 MB system RAM and your computer will still be panting for air.

Buy RAM sticks. And as I said earlier, whether or not you buy a video card wholely depends on what YOU want yur computer to do...

I think you can purchase RAM sticks online or at any computer shop. The tricky part is figuring out what to buy. Memory RAM sticks come with different brands, different storage sizes, different architectures and different bus speeds.

Here's where knowledge of your own motherboard becomes critical because that will dictate the kind of memory you should be buying.

What I especially hate about branded PCs is that it never gives owners sufficient information. Again, the motherboard information is missing.

I'll check out information on Presario S4020WM and see what I find.

Your memory stick is 128 mb DDR PC2100. Since we don't know what your motherboard is, you might want to look for a 256 mb DDR stick with around the same bus speed (PC2100). Better yet, get a 512 mb stick if you can find one. If you can spend on good memory brands, Corsair RAM sticks are very nice.

As expected, the memory bus speed is DDR 266 or PC2100. So, you'll need to find like 256 mb stick DDR (or DDR 1) with around 266 MHz speed or... PC2100. I don't know if you can slap in a 333 in... I heard that the 333 stick will just perform at 266 but I'm not too sure.

Get 256 mb or 512 mb... on a side note, this pc is very old.

PS - Krysie, remove your serial numbers. Not very safe to have that revealed in the public.

Thanks so much! This helps alot. I'll have my brother come down and read this and he can just purchase it for me,lol. I'll give him the money though. And yes this pc is getting old. I purchased it in November of 2003.
Everyone gets on it here pretty much everyday.

Which part are the serial numbers? Where is it?
I dunno.. edit: I've removed all info.

Last edited by Krysie on Wed 12 Apr 2006 01:02, edited 2 times in total.

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